Carleton University
Carleton University is a public research university in Ottawa, Canada, serving 30,600+ students across 200+ undergraduate and 100+ graduate programs, with notable research strengths in space robotics, quantum science, and non-terrestrial networks.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1942
- HeadquartersOttawa, Canada
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Carleton University does
Carleton University is a comprehensive public research university located in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, founded in 1942 and incorporated under the Carleton University Act. It serves more than 30,600 students across over 200 undergraduate programs in 26 degree frameworks and more than 100 graduate programs, supported by roughly 1,001-5,000 employees including 200+ full-time faculty. The institution delivers teaching and research across engineering, science, business, arts, public policy, and journalism, with distinctive capabilities in space robotics (ASRoM Lab supporting NASA's Artemis lunar rover and ESA's e.Deorbit program), non-terrestrial networks (NTN-CAN, $13.5M CFI-funded), quantum science (100+ researchers across 32 labs), carbon capture and storage leak detection, and homomorphic encryption-based privacy systems. Revenue is generated from tuition and academic programs, government and industry research grants (approximately $155.4M annually), provincial operating funding, philanthropic donations, athletics and recreation services, and campus dining operations. Distribution is primarily through direct admissions channels, the institutional website (carleton.ca), and the Carleton Athletics/Fusion member portal, with marketing concentrated on digital channels and campus events targeting prospective students, community members, and industry partners.
Carleton University firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Carleton University
- Legal name
- Carleton University
- Website
- https://carleton.ca
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1942
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Short description
- Carleton University is a public research university in Ottawa, Canada, serving 30,600+ students across 200+ undergraduate and 100+ graduate programs, with notable research strengths in space robotics, quantum science, and non-terrestrial networks.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Carleton University industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Higher Education Services
- NAICS
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public Research Universities with Comprehensive Graduate & Professional Schools (EDAHAAAF)
Keywords
Where Carleton University is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Ottawa
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Carleton University business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Tuition and Academic Programs: Revenue from undergraduate and graduate tuition fees, continuing studies programs, and professional development offerings including executive education and online courses.
- Research Funding: Government and private sector research grants and contracts, including Canada Foundation for Innovation funding, government ministry grants, and industry partnerships.
- Athletics and Recreation Services: Revenue from fitness memberships, aquatics programs, camps, sports leagues, and facility rentals including the High Performance Centre.
- Dining Services: Food service operations including dining halls, food courts, cafes, and catering services across campus.
- Donations and Alumni Giving: Philanthropic contributions from alumni, corporations, and foundations supporting scholarships, research, and campus development.
- Government Funding: Provincial government funding through programs like the Training Equipment and Renewal Fund (TERF) for classroom modernization and technology upgrades.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Individual athlete memberships with 1-5+ sessions per week |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Youth athletic development programs for ages 12-15 |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | High Performance Conditioning Camp for ages 13-16 |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Spring/Summer student gym membership |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels5 records
Carleton University product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Carleton University is a comprehensive public university offering over 200 undergraduate programs, 100+ graduate programs, continuing studies, and professional development (Future EDge). It delivers credit-bearing academic instruction, conducts funded research, operates athletics/recreation facilities, campus dining, library services, and serves over 30,600 students on its Ottawa campus.
Product overview
Carleton University operates primarily as an educational institution rather than a technology product company. Its digital offerings consist of the main institutional website (carleton.ca), Carleton Athletics recreational services, and supporting administrative platforms. Carleton Athletics, the university's recreation and athletics department, encompasses multiple service lines including the High Performance Centre for elite athlete training, CUfit fitness membership program, aquatics programming, youth camps and children's programs, and intramural/adult recreational leagues. The university also operates Carleton Dining Services managing campus food operations and Learning and Professional Development services for staff development. These are institutional services rather than software products with typical product integrations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Undergraduate Degree Programs
- Graduate Degree Programs
- Continuing Studies and Professional Development (Future EDge)
- Carleton Athletics and Recreation
- High Performance Centre Memberships
- Carleton Aquatics
- Carleton Camps and Children's Programs
- Intramurals and Adult Leagues
- Carleton Dining Services
- MacOdrum Library Services
Quantifiable outcome
- Over $155 million in research funding annually
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Carleton University
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Carleton University technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Carleton University partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Polytechnique MontréalcoreCo-lead partner in the $13.5 million NTN-CAN project developing non-terrestrial network technologies. The project aims to integrate satellites, drones, and high-altitude aircraft with terrestrial networks to close Canada's digital divide.
- University of OttawacoreCollaborating partner in the NTN-CAN project bringing together multiple Canadian research institutions to advance next-generation connectivity research.
- National Research Council CanadacoreGovernment research partner in the NTN-CAN project contributing to Canada's innovation in non-terrestrial network technologies.
- Communications Research Centre CanadacoreGovernment communications research partner in the NTN-CAN project developing protocols for extending mobile coverage across Canada.
- National Capital CommissionminorPartnership to collect data and develop strategies for adapting Rideau Canal Skateway operations to climate change impacts.
- Spero AnalyticsminorPartnership on methane emissions reduction technology projects as part of Canadian government initiative to develop new technologies and standard practices for reducing methane from oil and gas sector.
- NXTSENS MicrosystemsminorPartner in methane measurement, reporting, and mitigation technology development as part of government-funded initiative advancing climate targets.
- Government of CanadacoreLaunched the Northern Entanglement strategic quantum partnership with Finland at Carleton University, bringing together researchers and government ministers to foster cooperation in quantum science and technology.
- Government of FinlandcoreInternational partnership to develop quantum capabilities to counter emerging cybersecurity threats, with Carleton hosting over 100 quantum researchers across 32 labs.
- EnviroCentreminorCollaboration on energy efficiency retrofits in social housing at Carver Place in Ottawa, including installation of heat pumps and new insulation to reduce carbon emissions.
- Multifaith Housing InitiativeminorPartnership on social housing retrofits at Carver Place, implementing energy efficiency improvements with Carleton's research lab support.
- McGill UniversityminorCollaborating on structural engineering solutions for climate-resilient cities, developing retrofitting solutions for aging masonry buildings using low-cost timber panels.
- University of WaterloominorResearch partner in McGill-led project developing retrofitting solutions for aging masonry buildings in Montreal and Ottawa-Gatineau.
- École de technologie supérieure (ETS)minorPartner in structural engineering research collaboration to improve earthquake resistance, thermal performance, and indoor health conditions in buildings.
- York UniversityminorResearch collaboration on retrofitting solutions for climate-resilient, sustainable cities with focus on building code updates and training programs.
- MDA SpacecoreStrategic collaboration on Canada's lunar rover program for NASA's Artemis mission. The ASRoM Lab is developing intelligent robotic systems for lunar exploration and orbital applications.
- NASAcorePartner in lunar exploration through Canada's contribution to NASA's Artemis mission, with Carleton's ASRoM Lab developing robotic systems for the lunar rover program.
- European Space AgencycoreSupporting the European Space Agency's e.Deorbit initiative to address orbital debris, which is projected to double in 50 years, through robotics research.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves3 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Carleton University competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- McMaster University: Hamilton-based public research university with similar research output scale and comprehensive program portfolio. Comparable STEM and applied research focus and Ontario funding model.
- University of Ottawa: Geographically adjacent bilingual comprehensive research university in Ottawa. Directly comparable in size, mission, and co-op orientation, and a formal research partner of Carleton on the NTN-CAN project.
- University of Waterloo: Mid-sized Canadian comprehensive research university renowned for co-op programs and STEM research. Comparable program mix, applied research orientation, and Ontario public-university funding model.
- Queen's University: Ontario comprehensive research university with similar undergraduate-focused structure, strong research output, and tuition/government revenue mix. Comparable scale and program breadth.
- Western University: Ontario-based comprehensive research university with similar student population (~30,000+), research intensity, and co-op/experiential learning offerings. Closely comparable in size and mission.
- Polytechnique Montréal: Montreal-based research-intensive engineering university and formal co-lead partner with Carleton on the NTN-CAN project. Comparable in research scale, public funding model, and engineering focus.
- Concordia University: Montreal-based comprehensive public university with comparable enrollment scale, applied research emphasis, and four-year undergraduate focus. Similar tuition/government revenue mix and urban research university positioning.
Broad incumbents
- University of Toronto: Canada's largest research university and the dominant incumbent for federal research funding, talent, and international students. Overlaps with Carleton's research mission but at materially larger scale.
- McGill University: Montreal-based internationally prominent research university. Collaborates with Carleton on the structural engineering retrofit research program and competes for federal research dollars in the same fields.
- University of British Columbia: Large Canadian research university with broad STEM and applied research portfolio. Competes with Carleton for CFI, Tri-Council, and international research funding at a national level.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Carleton University social profiles
Digital presenceCarleton University financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Carleton University leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Carleton University funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds6 records
Investors5 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Carleton University M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments1 record
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Carleton University
What does Carleton University do?
Carleton University is a comprehensive public university offering over 200 undergraduate programs, 100+ graduate programs, continuing studies, and professional development (Future EDge). It delivers credit-bearing academic instruction, conducts funded research, operates athletics/recreation facilities, campus dining, library services, and serves over 30,600 students on its Ottawa campus.
Is Carleton University a public or private company?
Carleton University is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Carleton University founded?
Carleton University was founded in 1942. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is Carleton University based?
Carleton University is headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Carleton University make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Tuition and Academic Programs are the primary driver. The others are research Funding, athletics and Recreation Services, dining Services, donations and Alumni Giving and government Funding.
Who are Carleton University's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are McMaster University, University of Ottawa, University of Waterloo, Queen's University, Western University, Polytechnique Montréal and Concordia University. Broad incumbents are University of Toronto, McGill University and University of British Columbia.
Does Carleton University have an API?
No public API is recorded for Carleton University.
What industry is Carleton University in?
Carleton University's product category is Higher Education Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHAAAF, Public Research Universities with Comprehensive Graduate & Professional Schools. Its NAICS code is 6113 and its SIC code is 8200.